# HotMacNews vs MacFormat

The clearest difference is review sentiment: HotMacNews at 78% against MacFormat's 48%. HotMacNews also leads on device support (5 vs 3). MacFormat's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.3) and ratings volume (87 vs 19). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. HotMacNews sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and MacFormat sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

MacFormat holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 19 and 87 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 78% of HotMacNews's written reviews are positive against 48% of MacFormat's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

HotMacNews ships an update every 2 months, MacFormat every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HotMacNews | MacFormat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (19 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hotmacnews/id445667443/reviews) | **[4.6 (87 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/macformat/id451439182/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 19 | **87** |
| Positive reviews | **78.3% of reviews** | 47.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 28 MB | 24 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mid Atlantic Consulting, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/329371531) | [Future plc](https://appshunter.io/developer/378460265) |

## What reviewers say

### HotMacNews

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hotmacnews/id445667443)

Stay updated with the latest Mac OS, iOS, and gadget news from over 60 top sites. Shake your device to discover random news or select specific sites. Receive push notifications for breaking news and enjoy Apple Watch and iOS 17 widget support.

**Highlights:** Aggregated Mac and iOS news, Random news discovery via shake gesture, Manual site selection, Push notifications for breaking news, Apple Watch support, iOS 17 widgets, Ad-free experience

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mac/iOS News Push | $0.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |
| Additional Pro Settings | $1.99 | one-time |
| Deluxe Package | $1.99 | one-time |


### MacFormat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/macformat/id451439182)

Access in-depth reviews, expert advice, and tutorials for Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Discover new apps and accessories to enhance your Apple device experience. Get more value from your technology.

**Highlights:** Apple device reviews, Expert technical advice, App and accessory recommendations, Tutorials and tips, In-depth content, Digital magazine issues

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Month Subscription | $4.99 | per month |
| 3 Month Subscription | $9.99 | per 3 months |
| 6 Month Subscription | $18.99 | per 6 months |
| 1 Year Subscription | $34.99 | per year |
| The complete guide to the new iPhone | $0.99 | one-time |
| The complete guide to the new iPad | $0.99 | one-time |
| February 2012 | $6.99 | one-time |
| August 2012 | $6.99 | one-time |
| September 2012 | $6.99 | one-time |
| December 2013 | $6.99 | one-time |
| All MacFormat back issues | $24.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and responsive app
- 📚 Excellent magazine content
- 💻 Well-designed for iPad
- 👍 Interactive and engaging format

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and stability issues
- ⏱️ Slow download speeds
- 📱 Compatibility problems on newer devices
- 💰 Expensive subscription price

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to exit/navigate out of magazine issues
- Subscription management problems
- Inconsistent performance after updates

**Requested features**

- Bookmark feature to save progress
- Font size adjustment options
- Offline reading mode
- Notifications for new issues


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HotMacNews free?

HotMacNews is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is MacFormat free?

MacFormat is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, HotMacNews or MacFormat?

MacFormat is rated higher. HotMacNews averages 4.3 out of 5 from 19 ratings, while MacFormat averages 4.6 from 87 ratings.

### Do HotMacNews or MacFormat have ads?

Neither HotMacNews nor MacFormat shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HotMacNews or MacFormat?

HotMacNews ships an update every 2 months, and MacFormat every 3 months. Most recently, HotMacNews was updated on October 9, 2026 and MacFormat on October 17, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*